For a month after that accident, the atmosphere surrounding the saintess candidates was not good. Aria’s mood mainly caused it. Although she appeared fine on the outside, many people could feel her sadness. No one drew the connection between Lilia’s disappearance and Aria. They assumed that Aria’s sadness was because of the departure of Lilia. That was not off the mark on their part. After the accident, Cardinal Devid was made a scapegoat by Duke Ellon. He was moved to the Western region. It was likely that he was silenced after that. It was convincing enough for everyone due to his predatory nature.

  After that accident, new regulations were introduced. No man was allowed to enter the saintess candidate's quarter. Many personnel were changed. Because of the shortage of female staff, Aria was appointed as the supervisor of the saintess candidates. She held the power over the daily life of the saintess candidates. Yet, she never felt happy about her newfound authority.

  Then, a month after that, Aria began to recover, which brought relief to everyone. However, Paul and I could not feel relieved. The smile she showed was nothing but a fake smile. Aria began to act as the teacher to the saintess candidates. She also ensured the best environment for them. The amount of paperwork she handled at that time was too much even for an adult. The oil lamp in her quarter has been lit for several weeks, all night long. The only time she could rest was when I forced her to take a nap with me. Now, it has been our tradition to take a nap together with Lucy. That was the only thing I could do for her at that time. That was how our tradition came to be, Lucy.

  However, five months after the accident with Lilia, several saintess candidates began to manifest their power. Although not as outstanding as Aria, a few promising individuals have appeared. It has brought many concerns to us. Cardinal Peter has been eyeing them after that. So, we were discussing how to protect them. At the end, I suggested bringing those whom we can and letting go of those whom we cannot. Aria would bring them under her wings if they submitted to her authority. And those who refused would be forced to give up their position. From the very beginning, they were not fated to be the saintess as it was already decided. That was the only way to protect them, given our circumstances.

  Fortunately, those outstanding individuals seemed to idolize Aria. So, they happily followed Aria’s instructions. That relieved a great deal of guilt from Aria. All of them were appointed as Aria’s assistants. I was glad that her workload had been reduced.

  After that, several more saintess candidates also manifested their power. From that batch, several fools tried to challenge Aria’s authority. So, I decided to gently show them the difference in quality between them and Aria. They went out for a month as a trial run for their official pilgrimages. I suggested it to them after listening to the detailed account of Aria’s activities during her pilgrimage from Paul.

  I really wanted to witness those fools’ faces firsthand. Ah, my bad, my nature is coming out.

  From Paul’s report, it seemed they thought that Aria’s pilgrimage was the same as the usual ‘pilgrimage’. After a week, they were practically crying and begging to return. They messed up greatly. Some even requested to withdraw from the saintess candidate, those spoiled girls. Well, I, too, during my time as a saintess candidate, was the same as they were, so I could not talk badly about them.

  However, two oddballs emerged from them. They came close to being fanatics. I was not sure what Aria did to make them like that. We have to ask Paul for that. Yet, he never tells me about it.

  About those two, you should have known them well, Lucy. They always refuse to talk about it. It is akin to dark history for them.

  After they came back, they volunteered to go to the Northern region, their hometowns. Officially, they went there on an official mission. However, we advertised that they felt ashamed of challenging Aria’s authority. But, in reality, they were to supervise our next plan. It was at that point that I came to learn that Aria could use Soul Vow. How many more secrets do you hide, Aria? How many more surprises do you need to give this old woman?

  However, I always welcome this kind of surprise. If worse came to worst, Aria would be able to establish her standing. Being able to use Soul Vow would allow Aria to be treated as a Cardinal. She would become irreplaceable to everyone. It seemed that all the followers also entered the Soul Vow with Aria, keeping everything secret. It was also her countermeasure to the moles. I was very proud of her.

  Being able to use Soul Vow signifies that the person is the embodiment of virtue: fairness, honesty, and purity. We could use this fact to defend Aria later. Soul Vow indeed is one of the most difficult arts. However, these virtues are the main reasons that not many people are able to administer it. In addition to their ability to use it, their virtue must also be recognized by divine scripture. Throughout recorded history, among all the saintesses, only the first and the fifth saintess were able to administer it. Additionally, in each generation, there have never been more than five people who could administer it. Most of them were artificially created. This was how special our Aria was.

  Then, Aria also sent those who graduated from the orphanage she administered to accompany them. On the outside, it was seen that they were eyes and ears that Aria sent to monitor those girls. But in reality, they were sent to assist them.

  From Paul’s words, it seems that this is the fruit of Aria's investment. Paul and Andres have been training them all that time. Your uncle also has some hand in it.

  From our discussion, most of the groundwork has been laid out at that point. However, something unexpected hit us.

  As Aria consolidated her position, the clergy faction began to gain momentum. They latched onto Aria’s achievement. As a result, the conflict between the imperial faction and the clergy faction intensified.

  We could not intervene. In the end, the condition of the first prince, who had suffered from a deficit in divinity, deteriorated quickly. After that, he was sent to the sanctuary by the emperor.

  After contracting the plague, he began to show signs of divinity deficit. At that time, I examined him several times. I found his body to be a bottomless pit. No matter how much I poured my divinity into it, it never filled. All I could do was stabilize his condition.

  After my health deteriorated, so did his health. Duke Ellon used this coincidence to draw the clergy faction to him and blame the first prince for my decline in health. After my health declined, many high priests were sent in my place. At that time, he took advantage of the normal condition of the depleting divinity of those high priests and planned the idea that it was a curse when injecting divinity into the first prince.

  From that moment, the imperial faction and the clergy faction became enemies.

  We expected that their conflict would intensify again. Yet, it was coming earlier than we expected. During this new conflict, before we could step in, much blood had already been spilled on both sides. From the information we could gather, the first prince’s condition was too severe. So, we have to modify our plan again.

  Initially, we planned to lead the pilgrimage soon. However, since the situation escalated to this degree, we needed to put it on hold for a while. We needed to stay low for a bit longer. We could not risk the civil war while the demon king’s resurrection was on our doorstep—something needed to be done.

  The conflict reached a critical point after the verdict for the execution of Cardinal Dixon and his lackey from the radical group, following his plot to assassinate the first prince. At that time, the main church put several nobles from the Central region on trial for the crime of blasphemy against the goddess as a form of retaliation. Without the permission from the emperor, the capital guard and imperial forces were mobilized and prepared to march to the main church under the instruction of Marquise Gray. Upon seeing the gathered army in the capital, the main church also gathered its guardian knight and punishment army under the instruction of Cardinal Lewis.

  Do you know, Lucy? At that time, we barely managed to prevent it. It was thanks to Aria deliberately putting herself in the middle. She voluntarily drew all the arrowheads to herself.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  She stepped up and put Cardinal Lewis in the dungeon before he could issue any commands. His sins were countless, each of which deserved capital punishment. How low did the main church fall?

  After that, Cardinal Peter also took the opportunity to place the church force under his temporary command. Then, with Paul and Cardinal Peter, Aria went to the Pope at the dead of the night and forced him to sign a verdict and a diplomatic resolution with the imperial family. Cardinal Peter was appointed as the Pope’s assistant. He oversaw the main church's daily operation, and Aria was appointed as a temporary missionary of the main church, overseeing foreign diplomatic affairs. That new power distribution was how Aria could receive the approval from Cardinal Peter.

  After that, with only Paul accompanying her, Aria went to the capital in the middle of the night. Later, I learned that she could initiate the peace talks with the imperial family with the help of the first princess and some personnel from the capital guard, who smuggled them in. They were those who received help from Aria.

  Do you know? At that time, similar things also happened in the imperial palace; a coup was also underway. While Duke Raven was lured to lead the imperial guard outside the palace, Marquise Gray and his cohorts imprisoned the imperial family in the throne room. I was informed that the corridor from the palace gate to the throne room was washed with blood. The first prince was evacuated to the underground channel, and the first princess was forced to run away from the palace at night. His Majesty and Her Majesty were confined in the throne room and forced to abdicate. They planned to force the first princess to marry him and ascend to the throne. They wanted to establish a new dynasty.

  He was initially resistant; however, the news of the capture of the first princess made him waver. They were saved by a hairbreadth when Aria and Paul forced their way into the throne room with the first princess.

  Apparently, Aria and Paul encountered the force that had captured the first princess outside the palace and saved her. With the support of the new recruit of the imperial guard, they managed to rescue the emperor and empress. They evacuated to the camp of the imperial guard and met the Duke Raven there. After that, they planned a counterattack.

  In just a single night, the power dynamic in the capital shifted multiple times, and the political landscape of the Central region underwent constant change. Most nobles of the capital stood on the sidelines and watched the progress. Most of them were waiting until the victor became the center before sending the support.

  It was Aria who used her status as a missionary of the main church and went to negotiate with them. With the first princess and Paul accompanying her, she went from one place to another. By morning, the political landscape in the Central region had become clear.

  With the backing of the clergy and the Eastern region, the Central region remained faithful to the emperor. That was how we prevented the civil war.

  After that, Marquise Gray was forced by his supporters to surrender.

  When the situation became stable, the imperial family and the main church issued a joint verdict. A joint public trial would be held for those who were accused by both sides.

  Lucy, if you want the full details of this event, you can ask Paul for them. He was with Aria all the time during that incident. What I am telling you here was what Paul had also briefed me. at that time, I could not move out. I could only stay in my room protecting you.

  As a result of this incident, the strength of the imperial faction has been dramatically reduced. However, it also consolidates the power of the imperial family by purging the moles with Aria's help. She helped them identify the moles behind the scenes.

  On the contrary, the strength of the clergy faction dramatically increased. And the power was also consolidated under Cardinal Peter’s rule.

  Yet, Aria was criticized by the radical group for helping the ‘cursed’ imperial family. For a while, her life was in danger. It took a lot of effort to eliminate the threat around her. You were also targeted, Lucy.

  After the purge from both sides, it was agreed that the first prince would be sent to the sanctuary. The pretext was that the goddess would decide his fate. If he could recover after being sent to the sanctuary, it would be interpreted that the goddess favored him, or else that was his fate.

  It was proposed by us after a careful discussion among us. Sanctuary, a place where death has no presence, was the only place that could guarantee his safety. As you know, Lucy, that place will keep you alive even if you receive a fatal wound. That was why the imperial family readily agreed to it. However, from the clergy faction’s perspective, it was as if the imperial family had abandoned the ‘cursed’ prince to his own fate and surrendered him to the main church. The main church was holding the first prince as a hostage, as the sanctuary was under the jurisdiction of the main church, which was how the clergy faction perceived it. That was how we wove that tale. That was why they viewed that development positively.

  That was how we prevented the civil war and the full collapse of the empire.

  Do you know, Lucy? After going to that trial, Aria also took it upon herself to do something unnecessary again.

  “Aria, are you sure? There is no need for you to go.” How many times did I say that? I lost count of it. I tried to stop her, yet she did not listen to me.

  “Your holiness, thank you very much for your concern. I already received the permission from my father.” It was early in the morning. The sun had not risen yet. She was preparing to get on the carriage. Aria volenteered to help injecting divinity into the first prince. She was doing it as a sign of the new relationship between the imperial faction and clergy faction.

  “Still-” Before I could finish my sentence, she cut me off.

  “It was also my father’s plan initially. Sooner or later, he will order me to go. I just took the initiative.” She softly shook her head at me.

  “But you are drawing attention to yourself again.” Yes, what she was trying to do at that time was akin to putting herself under public scrutiny again. Her life could be in danger again.

  Yet, she was determined to do it. “I will do it in moderation.”

  “……… Promise me one thing, just one thing. Whenever you go there, never use the forbidden art ‘Mother Grace’. You do not have to go that far.” That was also my primary concern. The first prince… even with my large divine pool, I could not fill that bottomless pit. With her small divine pool, I knew that there was no way she could do it.

  Considering her personally, I feared that she would use the Mother Grace to inject the divinity into the first prince. That was the forbidden art Aria used to feed you. It was also the one I used to feed Iris. I am afraid that she would transfer her life force into the first prince. It would shorten her lifespan.

  If done moderately, if the target were just a child, you would only temporarily weaken your body. However, if you overdid it, if the target were not a child, you would have permanently shortened your lifespan. That was how this art was considered forbidden art and strictly controlled by the main church.

  “…. I will not recklessly use it.” I could sense that she was not that confident with her reply.

  So, I could only plead with her. That was my only option left. “Promise me, Aria, please promise me.”

  “… I am sorry, Your holiness.” She just lowered her head to my plea. Your mother was too much. She always made me worry.

  “…. Aria, ……. You are too stubborn.” She was so stubborn. Why are all my daughters this stubborn? During my time raising Iris, I always worried that she would cause trouble. And with Aria, I always worried that she would hurt herself. Why did none of them listen to me? Was my parenting not good enough?

  So, Lucy, please don’t be stubborn like your mother. You should not make your mother and me worry. Please.

  “…. My apologies.”

  “…. I just want you to know. There are many people who care about you. And there are many people that is relying on you, me included.” Thus, I decided to do something dirty, something I specialized in; I tried to guilt-trap her.

  “… I will not recklessly abandon my life.” That was the only satisfactory answer she could give us.

  “… Do not let Lucy become an orphan again.” I gently caress her head. Sorry, I had to use you as the trump card. Aria is always weak against you. This is how much she loves you, Lucy.

  “….. Yes, Your holiness.”

  “… I really want to go there too. But it was impossible for now.” I really could not go there. Duke Ellon heavily watched the entrance to the sanctuary. And the Saintess quarter was also monitored. The moment I left my quarter, they would notice it.

  “… Please prioritize your health.”

  “… Just tell Duke Raven that I send my regards.” Oh, I forgot to tell you, Lucy. Duke Raven was also a distant relative of mine. Therefore, it is advisable to become familiar with them. They were good people.

  “……. I will.”

  After I finished my conversation with Aria, I shifted my attention to Paul and your ‘brother’, Andres. They were tasked to escort Aria to the sanctuary on a weekly basis.

  “… Paul, and … Andres, I will leave Aria’s safety to you two.”

  “With my life, I will protect her holiness -Arg.” Before he could finish his word, Paul hit him in the head with a chop. Andres was unruly at that time. Or should I say chaotic?

  Paul has always been harsh to him. “Silent. I will protect milady well, saintess.”

  “… Don`t be too rough with him. This is his first official mission after all.” I had to voice defend him. Sometimes I found Paul was a bit too harsh on him. You, too, copy Paul too much.

  “Are you hurt?” Then Aria went to help Andres get up. She also healed him.

  “No at all.” His face turned red instantly.

  When Paul saw them like that, his face turned sour. “Don’t spoil him too much, milady. This is for his education.”

  “… I am not spoiling him.” Then Aria rebuts him. She went into a whole defensive mood.

  As I watched their interaction. I thought to myself … Andres, your potential rival is waiting for you there. So, do your best.

  “… saintess, I will see you again this evening.”

  “… I will try my best to stay awake this evening.” After all, it would take almost half a day to get there by carriage. So, it would take a day for a round trip. So, at the fastest, they would arrive around the evening.

  As I watched Andres escort Aria into the carriage, I thought back to the first time I saw that boy.